Window shade roller



Aug. 6, 1963 c. H. ROSENBAUM WINDOW SHADE ROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 17, 1962 FIG.3

Aug. 6, 1963 c. H. ROSENBAUM WINDOW SHADE ROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1962 FIG. 7

FIG. 6

FIG.8

United States Patent 3,099,916 WINDOW SHADE ROLLER Charles H. Rosenbaum, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Eastern Products Corporation, Baltimore, Md., :1 corporation of Maryland Filed July 17, 1962, Ser. No. 210,427 4 Claims. (Cl. 64-5) The present invention relates to window shade rollers, and more particularly to window shade rollers which are adjustable to accommodate varying window widths.

In the sale of stock window shades, as distinguished from custom window shades especially made to fit particular windows, it has long been the practice in retail stores and similar outlets to cut down window shades and rollers to fit windows of narrower than standard width. Various machines have been developed to facilitate such cutting down in size of standard rollers and shades. However, despite the use of such machines, it has been necessary to provide specially trained personnel to handle the mechanical operation involved. The requirement of trained personnel and hand operations is expensive and has been generally unsatisfactory, particularly in modern retail establishments of the so-called discount type where ideally a customer is able to select his own merchandise with no assistance from store personnel.

It has long been recognized that adjustable width window shade rollers would be desirable to accommodate variations in window width from the standard or usual sizes, and a variety of mechanisms have been proposed for this purpose. However, such mechanisms have been either impractical or too expensive for use in stock window shades which traditionally have been low priced items. This is exemplified by the fact that it is still the practice in the sale of stock window shades to cut down the shade and roller to the desired size. In addition to being a relatively expensive operation, the customer is required to pay for the original shade and roller width even though such width is greater than needed.

The principal object of the present invention has been the provision of a novel and improved window shade roller construction which is automatically adjustable to variations in window width over a selected range.

More particularly, it has been an object of this invention to provide such a window shade roller which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is reliable and sturdy in operation.

Another object of the invention has been the provision of such a window shade roller which is adjustable over the full range of adjustability without interfering in any way with the shade material or the attachment thereof to the roller.

A feature of the invention has been the provision of a novel and improved spring-loaded escutcheon pin and housing for insertion into an open end of a hollow window shade roller.

Another feature of the invention has been the provision of a novel and improved escutcheon pin and housing especially adapted for insertion in the open end of a hollow plastic window shade roller.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description of the invention taken in connection with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one end portion of a window shade roller embodying the invention;

'FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the escutcheon s ngers Patented Aug. 6, 1963 pin and housing of FIG. 1, removed from the hollow roller;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the escutcheon pin of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the escutcheon pin of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the escutcheon pin housing of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the escutcheon pin housing of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is a side elewational view of the escutcheon pin housing of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the escutcheon pin housing of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10* refers to a hollow cylindrical window shade roller which is preferably made from a relatively rigid plastic material. The end of roller 16 which is not shown may contain the usual window shade roller spring operating mechanism. In the other end of roller 10 is inserted an assembly comprising an escutcheon pin 11, a housing 12 and a compression spring 13.

Escutcheon pin 11 is preferably made from a plastic material and comprises a hollow cylinder 14 closed at one end and open at the other end. The closed end of cylinder 14 is designated 15 and is provided on the outer face thereof with an annular boss 16 from which projects a pin 17. The pin 17 is adapted to enter the circular hole of the usual window shade roller mounting bracket (not shown) for rotatably supporting one side of the window shade roller.

The open end or base of cylinder 14 has an edge which tapers to a point, as shown at 18, to facilitate insertion of the cylinder 14 into circular hole 19 provided in housing 1 2. The diameters of the cylinder 14 and hole 19 should be selected to provide a relatively close fit but one which permits easy sliding of the cylinder 14 within the hole 19. Typically, cylinder 14 might have an outside diameter of .781 and hole 19a diameter of .791".

On opposite sides of the lower end of cylinder 14 the cylinder walls are built outwardly to provide wedgeshaped projections 20' and 21, the upper surfaces of which form horizontal shoulders or lips 22 and 23, respectively, projecting radially outwardly from the walls of cylinder 14. Radially inwardly of shoulders 22 and 23 the walls of cylinder 14 are cut away to form arcuate slots 24 and 25, respectively. The slots 24 and 25 typically might each extend over an arc of about and are provided to facilitate distortion of cylinder 14, which is necessary to permit projections 20 and 21 to pass through hole '19 during insertion of escutcheon pin 11 into housing 12. Also to facilitate this insertion, the upper portions of the projections 20 and 21 are preferably substantially vertical, i.e., parallel to the escutcheon pin, as shown at 26 and 27.

Housing 12, which is preferably made from a plastic material, has a circular base 28 with a tapered edge 29 to facilitate insertion of the housing '12 into the open end of roller 10. At its opposite end, housing 12 has an annular ring 30 extending inwardly from an annular flange 31. The outside diameter of flange 31 is preferably the same as that of roller 10. The ring 30 and base 28 are joined at opposite sides of the housing 12 by relatively narrow arms 32 and 33.

The hole 19 is formed in flange 31 and ring 30 and the inner surfaces of arms 32 and 33 form extensions of the hole walls which serve as continuing guides for cylinder 14.

The outer surface of ring 30 is provided with a series of spaced, sharp-edged ridges 34. Two additional ridges, designated 35, are formed in the outer walls of arms 32 and 33 and are substantially longer than the ridges 34. The ridges 3-4 and 35 make the eifective outer diameter of ring 30 slightly greater than the internal diameter of roller 10. Thus, in inserting housing 12 into the open end of roller '10 the ridges 3'4 and 35 must be deformed slightly and will provide a tight gripping contact with the internal surface of roller 10. This gripping contact will cause housing 12 and roller to rotate together as a unit.

Pins '36 and 37 project upwardly from base 28 in a generally cross-shaped configuration to provide a central guide for compression spring 13. One end of spring 13 rests on base 28, while the other end thereof extends upwardly into cylinder 14 and rests against the inside face of end 15. Spring 13 thus urges cylinder 14 to move axially outwardly of housing 12 through hole 19. Outward movement of cyilnder .14 is limited by contact between shoulders 22 and 23 and inner edge 38 of ring 30. Axially inward movement of cylinder 14 is limited by compression of spring 13.

It will be evident that the axial travel permitted the cylinder 14 between these inner and outer limits represents the degree or range of adjustability of roller 10, and this range can be selected as desired. For insertion of roller 10 in a window, cylinder 14 will be pushed axially inwardly of housing 12 until pin 17 can enter the bracket. The cylinder 14 is then released and spring 13 insures firm seating of pin 17 in the bracket. The spring pressure should not be so great that axial thrust against the bracket edges by the boss 16 will interfere with roller rotation.

In many instances it will be desirable to provide the window shade roller of the invention in a series of standard lengths separated by increments of one inch. However the escutcheon pin and housing construction of the invention can easily be made to accommodate greater or lesser increments.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof and in a specific use, various modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable window shade roller, comprising a hollow cylindrical roller open at one end; a generally cylindrical axially extending housing inserted in said open end of said roller and having an outer annular portion at the outer end thereof and a base at the inner end thereof, said outer portion having a central opening confronting said base, said outer portion having a wall extend-ing radially of said opening and axially spaced from said base; an escutcheon pin unit comprising a generally cylindrical hollow body member open at one end and closed at the other end, said body member being inserted in said opening with said open end thereof facing said base, said body member being arranged so that the walls of said opening serve as a guideway for said body member to permit axial sliding of said body member in said opening, a supporting pin projecting axially outwardly of said closed end of said body member, and means projecting radially outwardly from said body member and being arranged to contact said radially extending wall thereby to limit axial motion of said body member outwardly of said opening; and a compression spring having one end thereof acting against said base and the other end thereof extending within said body member and acting against the inner face of said closed end of said body member thereby to urge said body member to slide axially outwardly of said housmg.

2. An adjustable window shade roller, comprising a hollow cylindrical roller open at one end; a generally cylindrical housing inserted in said open end of said roller, said housing having a base, an annular ring axially spaced from said base and having an inner edge axially spaced from said base, and wall means joining said ring and said base, the inner surfaces of said annular ring and said wall means defining a generally cylindrical axially extending aperture; an escutcheon pin unit comprising a generally cylindrical hollow body member open at one end and closed at the other end, a supporting pin projecting axially outwardly of said closed end of said body member, said body member being inserted in said aperture and being axially slidable along the walls of said aperture, said walls serving as a guideway for said body member, the open end of said body member facing said base, and projecting means extending radially of said body member and being arranged to contact said inner edge of said ring to limit axial movement of said body member outwardly of said housing; and a compression spring having one end thereof acting against said base and the other end thereof extending into said body member and acting against the inner face of said closed end of said body member thereby to urge said body member to slide axially outwardly of said housing.

3. An adjustable window shade roller, comprising a hollow cylindrical roller open at one end; a generally cylindrical housing inserted in said open end of said roller, said housing having a circular base, an annular ring axially spaced from said 'base and having an inner edge axially spaced from said base, and a pair of axially extending circumferentially spaced arms joining said ring and said base, the inner surfaces of said annular ring and said arms defining a generally cylindrical axially extending aperture; an escutcheon pin unit comprising a generally cylindrical hollow body member open at one end and closed at the other end, a supporting pin projecting axially outwardly of said closed end of said body member and adapted to engage a window shade bracket or the like, said body member being inserted in said aperture and being axially slidable along the walls of said aperture, said walls serving as a guideway for said body member, the open end of said body member facing said base, and a pair of circumferentially spaced projections extending radially outwardly of said body member adjacent said open end thereof and having radially extending shoulders arranged to contact said inner edge of said ring to limit axial movement of said body member outwardly of said housing; and a compression spring having one end thereof acting against said base and the other end thereof extending into said body member and acting against the inner face of said closed end of said body member thereby to urge said body member to slide axially outwardly of said housing.

4. An adjustable Window shade roller, comprising a hollow cylindrical roller open at one end; a generally cylindrical housing inserted in said open end of said roller, said housing having a circular base, an annular ring axially spaced from said base and having an inner edge axially spaced from said base, and a pair of axially extending circumferentially spaced arms joining said ring and said base, the inner surfaces of said annular ring and said arms defining a generally cylindrical axially extending aperture, and a plurality of axially extending circumferentially spaced ridges on the outer surface of said housing, said ridges engaging the inner surface of said roller to prevent relative motion of said housing and said roller; an escutcheon pin unit comprising a generally cylindrical hollow body member open at one end and closed at the other end, a supporting pin projecting axially outwardly of said closed end of said body member and adapted to engage a window shade bracket or the like, said body member being inserted in said aperture and being axially slidable along the Walls of said aperture, said walls serving as a guideway for said body member, the open end of said body member facing said base, and a pair of circumferentially spaced projections extending radially outwardly on opposite sides of said body member adjacent said open end thereof and having radially extending shoulders arranged to contact said inner edge of said ring to limit axial movement of said body member outwardly of said housing, said body member having a circumferentially extending slot adjacent each of said projections to permit deformation of said body member whereby said projections may pass said ring when said body member is inserted in said housing; and a compression spring having one end thereof acting against said base and the other end thereof extending into said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Duchemin June 9, 1903 McLean Mar. 24 ,1914 Schroyer Sept. 3, 19,29 Stuber Ian. 18, 1938 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE WINDOW SHADE ROLLER, COMPRISING A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL ROLLER OPEN AT ONE END; A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL AXIALLY EXTENDING HOUSING INSERTED IN SAID OPEN END OF SAID ROLLER AND HAVING AN OUTER ANNULAR PORTION AT THE OUTER END THEREOF AND A BASE AT THE INNER END THEREOF, SAID OUTER PORTION HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING CONFRONTING SAID BASE, SAID OUTER PORTION HAVING A WALL EXTENDING RADIALLY OF SAID OPENING AND AXIALLY SPACED FROM SAID BASE; AN ESCUTCHEON PIN UNIT COMPRISING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL HOLLOW BODY MEMBER OPEN AT ONE END AND CLOSED AT THE OTHER END, SAID BODY MEMBER BEING INSERTED INSAID OPENING WITH SAID OPEN END THEREOF FACING SAID BASE, SAID BODY MEMBER BEING ARRANGED SO THAT THE WALLS OF SAID OPENING SERVE AS A GUIDEWAY FOR SAID BODY MEMBER TO PERMIT AXIAL SLIDING OF SAID BODY MEMBER IN SAID OPENING, A SUPPORTING PIN PROJECTING AXIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID CLOSED END OF SAID BODY MEMBER, AND MEANS PROJECTING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BODY MEMBER AND BEING ARRANGED TO CONTACT SAID RADIALLY EXTENDING WALL THEREBY TO LIMIT AXIAL MOTION OF SAID BODY MEMBER OUTWARDLY OF SAID OPENING; AND A COMPRESSION SPRING HAVING ONE END THEREOF ACTING AGAINST SAID BASE AND THE OTHER END THEREOF EXTENDING WITHIN SAID BODY MEMBER AND ACTING AGAINST THE INNER FACE OF SAID CLOSED END OF SAID BODY MEMBER THEREBY TO URGE SAID BODY MEMBER TO SLIDE AXIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING. 